wiki:GENIExperimenter/Tutorials/NewToolsSetup

1. GENI Portal Account Instructions

These instructions are to test if you are able to log into the GENI Portal using the username and password you use at your home institution, and, in the event that fails, to help you request a GENI account. (Note: GENI never sees your home institution username and password. For more information on how this works, see http://www.incommon.org/federation/basics.html.)

  1. Go to https://portal.geni.net and click the big orange "Use GENI" button.
  2. On the institution chooser page, select your home institution. The text entry field will auto-complete institutions if you type in a few characters. Or you can choose the "Show a list of organizations" option and find your institution in the drop down box.
    IF your institution does not appear here:
    1. Click on the "Request an account" link in the gray box on the page. This will take you to a page where you can request an account from the NCSA.
    2. Look for an email from the NCSA asking you to confirm your request and follow the instructions in that email.
    3. After your NCSA account is approved (should be a few minutes), you can log into the GENI Portal by specifying NCSA as your home institution.
  3. Select your home institution (or NCSA if you got an account there) and click "Continue". You will be redirected to your home institution's (or NCSA's) login page.
  4. Type in your usual home institution Username and Password. Again, note this information is not sent to GENI.
  5. You should be redirected to a GENI agreement page.
    IF this does not happen, STOP and email help@geni.net. Be sure to include in your email (1) the name of the institution you chose in the Portal login page, and (2) what happened when you tried to log in including any error messages you got.
  6. On the GENI agreement page, check the two boxes that indicate you agree to all policies and to let the portal work on your behalf. Then "submit" the page. Congratulations, you're done! You should now be at the portal home page.

2. Computer Requirements

Verify your laptop/desktop meets these minimum requirements:

  • Runs a relatively recent version of Mac OS X, Windows or Linux.
  • 2 GB of memory
  • A modern processor, at least dual core and >1.5 GHz, (no Intel Atom, no netbooks, no tablets)
  • A good connection to the Internet
  • webcam (optional, but recommended)
  • microphone
  • headphones/speakers

If you have a choice, MacOS/Linux machines are preferred as they have built-in ssh tools.
If you have a webcam please use it at the tutorial --- web-based tutorials are much less impersonal if we can see your faces.

3. Install GENI Tools

3.1 Install Browser

If not already installed on your machine, please install one of these browsers:

3.2 SSH Client

Mac OS X/Linux

Mac OS X and Linux come with an ssh client you can run from a Terminal window. You do not need to install anything. Proceed to the "Test SSH with keys" section below.

Windows

Recommended

Install PuTTY, a free SSH client for Windows: PuTTY

Alternative

Install FireSSH, a Firefox ssh plugin: FireSSH

3.3 Test SSH with keys

You should have received a copy of an SSH private key by email. Follow the instructions below which apply to your Operating System and SSH client. (PuTTY users should use the key file with PUTTY in it's name)

Mac OS X/Linux

  1. Save the NOT_PUTTY version of the private key on your computer.
  2. Open a terminal
  3. Ensure that your private key has the right permissions by typing:
    chmod 700 <private_key_file>
    
  1. Run ssh by typing:
    ssh -i <private key location> sshtest@pc1.geni.uchicago.edu -p 33594
    
  2. Enter the passphrase (v3rify) when prompted. Note: If you are prompted for a password then something went wrong. Make sure that all the information is correct.

If you see the prompt sshtest@test:~$ you have successfully logged-in to the node.

Windows PuTTY

  1. You will use the PUTTY version of the private key. Save the key on your computer. (It was converted from the standard format using the puttygen program. For more information look here)
  2. Run PuTTY.
  3. On the Basic options screen, in the Host Name field enter: sshtest@pc1.geni.uchicago.edu
  4. In the Port field enter: 33594
  5. Make sure Connection type is: SSH
  6. Under the settings categories on the left navigate to Connection-> SSH ->Auth.
  7. Next to the "Private key file for authentication" field at the bottom, click Browse... and select the private key file you saved to your computer, and click Open.
  8. Click Open to establish the SSH connection.
  9. If prompted about whether you trust the host (key not cached in registry), click Yes.
  10. When prompted for the Passphrase enter: v3rify

If you see the prompt sshtest@test:~$ you have successfully logged-in to the node.

Windows FireSSH

After you Install FireSSH :

  1. Save the NOT_PUTTY version of the private key.
  2. Load this URL into firefox: ssh://sshtest@pc1.geni.uchicago.edu:33594
  3. In the pop-up window, enter the passphrase v3rify in the (mislabeled) password field, and click Browse...
  4. Select the private key, and click Open.
  5. Click OK.
  6. If prompted about whether you trust the host (host key not cached in registry), click Yes.

If you see the prompt sshtest@test:~$ you have successfully logged-in to the node.

All Done

Once you have successfully logged-in, you may close the SSH connection. Your set-up is now complete. During the hands-on lab you will generate a set of your own public and private keys, and use this same procedure to log-in to GENI machines you will reserve.

Last modified 7 years ago Last modified on 02/03/17 12:18:08